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RRsat Announces Acquisition of SM2 Sports & Media Solutions
Acquisition Will Establish RRsat as a Major Player in the Occasional Use (OU) Broadcast of Live Sport Events in the US
AIRPORT CITY BUSINESS PARK, Israel, November 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST), a leading provider of
comprehensive content management and global distribution services to the television and
radio broadcasting industries, today announced that its U.S. subsidiary, RRsat America
Global Communications Network Inc. (RRsat America) has acquired the assets and operations
of SM2 Sports & Media Solutions, a U.S. based premier provider of occasional-use
international sports distribution and syndication services. SM2 works with many of the
major international sports agencies and broadcasters around the world, to deliver their
content reliably and cost effectively.
SM2's clients include the U.S. National Football League (NFL), USGA, LPGA, ESPN
International, IMG Media, B SKY B, Viasat and others. Among other major accomplishments,
SM2 assisted the NFL in delivering its initial high definition (HD) broadcast of the Super
Bowl to its European broadcast partners.
SM2's operations will be integrated into RRsat America and Susanna Mandel-Mantello,
the founder of SM2, will join RRsat America. Ms. Mantello has worked in the sports
broadcasting industry for over sixteen years, including eight years at the National Hockey
League as Director of International Broadcasting. Ms. Mantello will further develop
RRsat's sports and special events (Occasional Use - OU) as well as the 24/7 business in
the United States, enhancing its reputation in launching and supporting new broadcasting
technologies and ensuring that clients receive the highest transmission quality on all
feeds, through access to RRsat's global network. As a result, RRsat America will be able
to more aggressively and effectively compete for new and larger contracts.
Avi Cohen, CEO of RRsat, commented, "RRsat has taken a bold step and has entered into
a lucrative new activity of Occasional Use broadcast and distribution of live sports in
the United States. We see tremendous long-term potential in a fast growing market, and the
acquisition of SM2 places us in a very strong position to actualize on that opportunity.
In the past, we have worked closely with SM2 and we expect to benefit from strong
synergies by bringing SM2 under the RRsat umbrella. We are very happy to welcome SM2 and
Susanna to the RRsat family, and we look forward to expanding our U.S. activities and
winning new clients for our global digital broadcasting services."
Susanna Mandel-Mantello, Founder and President of SM2, commented, "I am truly excited
to be joining the RRsat family and growing its US and OU business. As a person who has
been involved in the industry, from both a client and vendor standpoint, I see the
occasional use market not only growing, but also offering more challenges in regards to
global transmission and the need for high quality and reliability. By joining RRsat, a
global leader in digital content management and distribution, we will be in a much
stronger position to provide a true global network, as well as improved customer service
and advanced technical solutions, two major qualities that SM2 is renowned for."
About RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd.
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST) provides global, end-to-end,
content management and distribution services to the rapidly expanding television and radio
broadcasting industries, covering more than 150 countries. Through its RRsat Global
Network, composed of satellite and terrestrial fiber optic capacity and the public
Internet, RRsat provides high-quality and flexible global distribution services 24/7 to
more than 630 channels reaching multiplatform operators, Internet TV and direct-to-home
viewers worldwide and also offers occasional use services for sports, news and events with
a fleet of flyaways and over 10 transportable satellite news gathering services (SNG)
units. More than 130 television and radio channels use RRsat's advanced production and
playout centers comprising comprehensive media asset management services. Visit the
company's website http://www.rrsat.com
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding (i) our ability to consummate the
transaction in a timely manner, or at all, (ii) our ability to successfully integrate the
acquired assets, (iii) the growth of our business in the United States and elsewhere,(iv)
the growth of our OU business, (v),our ability to build a stronger local presence in the
North American region (vi) our expectation to expand our client base and sell additional
services to our existing client base, and (vii) our ability to report future successes.
These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are
based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the companies
and the industry as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to
update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances,
or to changes in our expectations, except as may be required by law. Forward-looking
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ
materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including the risks
indicated in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For more
details, please refer to our SEC filings and the amendments thereto, including our Annual
Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011 and our Current Reports on Form
6-K.
Company Contact Information:
Itzhak Zion, CFO
Tel: +972-3-928-0777
Email: investors@rrsat.com
Investor Relations Contacts:
Ehud Helft & Kenny Green at CCG Israel
Tel: +1-646-201-9246
rrsat@ccgisrael.com
RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd
RRsat Announces Acquisition of SM2 Sports & Media Solutions
Acquisition Will Establish RRsat as a Major Player in the Occasional Use (OU) Broadcast of Live Sport Events in the US
AIRPORT CITY BUSINESS PARK, Israel, November 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST), a leading provider of
comprehensive content management and global distribution services to the television and
radio broadcasting industries, today announced that its U.S. subsidiary, RRsat America
Global Communications Network Inc. (RRsat America) has acquired the assets and operations
of SM2 Sports & Media Solutions, a U.S. based premier provider of occasional-use
international sports distribution and syndication services. SM2 works with many of the
major international sports agencies and broadcasters around the world, to deliver their
content reliably and cost effectively.
SM2's clients include the U.S. National Football League (NFL), USGA, LPGA, ESPN
International, IMG Media, B SKY B, Viasat and others. Among other major accomplishments,
SM2 assisted the NFL in delivering its initial high definition (HD) broadcast of the Super
Bowl to its European broadcast partners.
SM2's operations will be integrated into RRsat America and Susanna Mandel-Mantello,
the founder of SM2, will join RRsat America. Ms. Mantello has worked in the sports
broadcasting industry for over sixteen years, including eight years at the National Hockey
League as Director of International Broadcasting. Ms. Mantello will further develop
RRsat's sports and special events (Occasional Use - OU) as well as the 24/7 business in
the United States, enhancing its reputation in launching and supporting new broadcasting
technologies and ensuring that clients receive the highest transmission quality on all
feeds, through access to RRsat's global network. As a result, RRsat America will be able
to more aggressively and effectively compete for new and larger contracts.
Avi Cohen, CEO of RRsat, commented, "RRsat has taken a bold step and has entered into
a lucrative new activity of Occasional Use broadcast and distribution of live sports in
the United States. We see tremendous long-term potential in a fast growing market, and the
acquisition of SM2 places us in a very strong position to actualize on that opportunity.
In the past, we have worked closely with SM2 and we expect to benefit from strong
synergies by bringing SM2 under the RRsat umbrella. We are very happy to welcome SM2 and
Susanna to the RRsat family, and we look forward to expanding our U.S. activities and
winning new clients for our global digital broadcasting services."
Susanna Mandel-Mantello, Founder and President of SM2, commented, "I am truly excited
to be joining the RRsat family and growing its US and OU business. As a person who has
been involved in the industry, from both a client and vendor standpoint, I see the
occasional use market not only growing, but also offering more challenges in regards to
global transmission and the need for high quality and reliability. By joining RRsat, a
global leader in digital content management and distribution, we will be in a much
stronger position to provide a true global network, as well as improved customer service
and advanced technical solutions, two major qualities that SM2 is renowned for."
About RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd.
RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: RRST) provides global, end-to-end,
content management and distribution services to the rapidly expanding television and radio
broadcasting industries, covering more than 150 countries. Through its RRsat Global
Network, composed of satellite and terrestrial fiber optic capacity and the public
Internet, RRsat provides high-quality and flexible global distribution services 24/7 to
more than 630 channels reaching multiplatform operators, Internet TV and direct-to-home
viewers worldwide and also offers occasional use services for sports, news and events with
a fleet of flyaways and over 10 transportable satellite news gathering services (SNG)
units. More than 130 television and radio channels use RRsat's advanced production and
playout centers comprising comprehensive media asset management services. Visit the
company's website http://www.rrsat.com
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding (i) our ability to consummate the
transaction in a timely manner, or at all, (ii) our ability to successfully integrate the
acquired assets, (iii) the growth of our business in the United States and elsewhere,(iv)
the growth of our OU business, (v),our ability to build a stronger local presence in the
North American region (vi) our expectation to expand our client base and sell additional
services to our existing client base, and (vii) our ability to report future successes.
These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are
based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the companies
and the industry as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to
update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances,
or to changes in our expectations, except as may be required by law. Forward-looking
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ
materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including the risks
indicated in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For more
details, please refer to our SEC filings and the amendments thereto, including our Annual
Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011 and our Current Reports on Form
6-K.
Company Contact Information:
Itzhak Zion, CFO
Tel: +972-3-928-0777
Email: investors@rrsat.com
Investor Relations Contacts:
Ehud Helft & Kenny Green at CCG Israel
Tel: +1-646-201-9246
rrsat@ccgisrael.com
RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd